Taking inspiration from your idol is a good thing. However, sometimes it can go a little far. KJ Jefferson, QB for UCF, is in the news just for that; His love and admiration for Shedeur Sanders. In his five years of being active, KJ has definitely made a solid name for himself.

With 86 touchdowns and 7,911 yards of coverage, KJ transferred to UCF from Arkansas with an excellent track record. Recently, his unique locker room decoration caught the attention of fans and media alike. Skip Bayless’ comments about Shedeur Sanders being the “Best” seem to have motivated KJ unexpectedly. Let’s dive into the details shared by Dalvin Truth on X and explore the ensuing reactions.

K.J. Jefferson, Shedeur Sanders, and some motivation?

7th July, is when Dalvin Truth decided to drop a ‘fun’ bomb. On his tweet on X, the caption wrote, “lol i guess skips comments about shedeur is kj Jefferson’s motivation this season 😂😂😂😂 he not even in the top 5 best qbs in the conference tho 😂.” With an image of KJ Jefferson’s locker which had a cutout of quite a bold claim about Shedeur Sanders. Dalvin Truth’s tweet humorously points out this motivation tactic, suggesting that KJ Jefferson is using Bayless’s praise of Sanders as a catalyst for his own season.

Now, coming to the “Bayless’ praise”. On the Undisputed Live show on 24th June, Bayless remarked, “He is not just the best QB in that conference but he’s the best QB in the country.” Highlighting the fact that he truly believes that Shedeur’s skill is currently above everyone else in the college football sphere. In another bold statement, Bayless compared Sanders to Tom Brady, highlighting his accuracy and poise. “Shedeur is a little bit more of a pure passer than Caleb is,” Bayless said. “He doesn’t have quite the cannon that Caleb has, but it’s enough of an arm because it’s a Brady-esque arm, and Brady had plenty of velocity.“​ Analysts like Skip Bayless believe Sanders has the potential to be the first overall pick, comparing his pro-style accuracy and to Tom Brady’s.

However, to further understand if Bayless’ claims hold true or not, let’s look at the current Mock Draft rankings. On July 6th, the 33rd Team published a 2025 Mock Draft list on X, placing Shedeur Sanders at the 8th spot. Meanwhile, other well-known football personalities and websites like WalterFootball and Matt Miller have acknowledged that Shedeur could easily be in the 2nd or 3rd spot, heeling Carson Beck at 1st. Still, games and winning aside, these expectations and goals do create a lot of pressure for the young players and teams as well.

The weight of high expectations

The pressures and expectations in college football are immense, often shaping the performance and careers of players. Shedeur Sanders, under the guidance of his father, Deion Sanders, at Colorado, has been steadily rising in the ranks. Sanders has steadily risen in the ranks and is now considered the top quarterback in the Big 12 according to multiple sources like 247Sports and The Sporting News. He passed for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and three interceptions last season and was a Heisman Trophy candidate. In the Big 12 QB rankings for 2024, Arizona’s Noah Fifita and Utah’s Cam Rising follow Sanders closely. Fifita, known for his efficiency, had a 165.9 passer rating last season, while Rising, who is back for his seventh season, has led Utah to two Pac-12 championships. Both quarterbacks are formidable competitors for Sanders, adding to the competitive environment in the Big 12.

KJ Jefferson, now with UCF, is another key player to watch. Jefferson, who transferred from Arkansas, brings a wealth of experience and impressive stats, including 7,923 passing yards and 88 total touchdowns in his college career. His presence in the 5th spot in Big 12 will undoubtedly impact the dynamics of the conference. The Big 12 is brimming with talent, and quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders, Noah Fifita, Cam Rising, and KJ Jefferson are at the forefront. With the field all set, the future games will only tell who ends up as the real No. 1.